Question

Which is the highest coal-producing country in the world?
A) Australia
B) China
C) India
D) USA

Answer 1

Hint:
The country is one of the most populated countries in the World. With an abundance of coal resources, this country is dependent on this source for its power and electrical needs. It is the second biggest importer of coal as well in the World.

Complete step by step solution:
China is the global leader in coal production. It produced 3,474 metric tonnes in 2018. In 2013, the numbers were 3,749 metric tonnes in 2013 making it a fall of $2.9\mathrm{\%}$. This is due to the country's public pledges to the Paris Climate Agreement in 2015. However, the country’s coal production increased in 2019. This was possible as China approved new coal mines in regions such as Xinjiang and Shanxi. By estimation, China will increase at least another 200GW of coal to its energy production, reaching a peak of around 1,230GW to 1,350GW. China had 62 billion tons of anthracite and bituminous, and 52 billion tons of lignite quality coal up its sleeves. It ranks third in the world after the United States and Russia, in terms of total coal reserves within its reach. China’s most coal reserves are located in the north and north-west of the country. As a result, it constitutes a large logistical problem for supplying electricity to the more heavily populated coastal areas. As of now, in terms of current levels of production, China has reserved for more or less 30 years. China's usage of coal in 2010 was $3.2$ billion metric tonnes per annum. In 2009, China's coal consumption increased by $9\mathrm{\%}$ from 2008 to $2.01$ billion metric tons. China mainly uses coal largely in power production. Apart from that, there is a lot of industry and manufacturing use. Domestic use of coal accounts for a very little part of this percentage.

Thus, option (B) is correct.

Note:
China’s pledge to the Paris Climate Agreement is forcing it to bring other sustainable energy resources into the mix. Still, Coal consumption and production are carried out on a very large scale in China.